N.Y. economy, workers need minimum-wage hike

10:51 PM,
Jan. 20, 2012

State Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown

Written by

David Carlucci

In Rockland and Orange counties, thousands of our neighbors must figure out how to make ends meet on the minimum wage. Across the state, there are 700,000 minimum-wage earners. For full-time work, that means just $290 a week.

Our region has among the highest costs of living in America. In Rockland County, where an average apartment costs more than $1,100 a month, minimum-wage workers still earn the same meager paycheck they would in Oklahoma or West Virginia - just $7.25 an hour. I don't need to tell you, that paycheck doesn't go very far in New York state.